South Indian Village Temple Priests Demand Monthly Remuneration

TAMIL NADU, INDIA, March 4, 2013 (The Hindu): Grama Kovil Poojarigal Peravai and the Tamil Nadu unit of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) have urged the State government to sanction monthly remuneration for priests of village temples. The two organisations have urged the State government to end the practice of issuing tickets for special darshan in temples that were under the control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments.

Resolutions to this effect were adopted at the two-day Hindu Marumalarchi conference organized here jointly by the VHP and the Grama Kovil Poojarigal Peravai on Saturday and Sunday.

Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, Sankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakodi Peetham, Sri Ramanuja Jeer of Thirukurunkudi Jeer Math, and other swamijis, priests from across the State, Vedantham, advisor, All World VHP, the former Union Minister and Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy, VHP State general secretary R.R. Gopalji, and office bearers of the Peravai participated.

Although the State government had announced pension for 4,000 village Hindu priests, the target was yet to be achieved completely. Hence, pension should be provided to all priests as ordered by the government. Another resolution said seeking the increase in pension from Rs. 1,000 (US$18.22) to Rs. 2,000 (US$36.45). The pension should be provided to the spouses of pujaris after their demise.

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